June, 27, 2008
Beckett at Ease Against Astros, Leads Sox to Win
Boston 3, Houston 1
Something about a Texas boy coming home that energized Josh Beckett. Raised in Spring, Texas just outside of Houston, Beckett seemed to feed off the crowds energy, holding his hometown Astros to one run on four hits over nine innings.
In his last two starts since coming off the disabled list, Beckett has managed only 7.2 innings total, while allowing 14 runs with just three strikeouts. Against the Astros, Beckett allowed one run in the bottom of the ninth while holding Houston to four hits, no walks while striking out 10 batters.
"It was something he needed," pitching coach john Farrell said afterwards. "Josh needed the intensity of a big game. Coming home so to speak. We watch him in warmups, and that fastball was zipping. I think Jason ['Tek] called a hell of game, using that fastball against the slower bats kept them off balance all night."
Boston jumped ahead in the second when Manny Ramirez took advantage of the short porch in left field for an easy home run, his 16th of the season. Astros starter Roy Oswalt was sharp, but leaving a hanging curve over to plate to Ramirez will always come back to haunt a pitcher.
In the third, after reaching base on a error by Kaz Matsui, Beckett helped his own cause by coming all the way around from first base on a long single by Kevin Youkilis. Waived on by the third base coach, Beckett looked a little out of wind as he crossed home plate ahead of a relay throw from first baseman Ty Wiggington.
In the 7th, Beckett would once again figure into the scoring. With Varitek on second and Julio Lugo on first, the Sox starter successfully placed down a sacrifice bunt, moving the runners ahead 90 feet. Jacoby Ellsbury, filling in for Coco Crisp in centerfield, brought Varitek home with a sharp single to left. After stealing second, Ellsbury and Lugo were stranded in scoring position when Oswalt struck out Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz on a pair of full count fastballs.
Beckett managed to hold the struggling Astros to just 2 hits over the first eight innings before show signs of tiring in the ninth. With two outs and the Boston bullpen quiet, Beckett allowed a single to Michael Bourn before a Miguel Tejada line drive found room between Ellsbury and J.D. Drew for a RBI double. With the tying run at the plate, though, Beckett was able to induce an inning-ending ground out from Wigginton to secure the complete game victory.
In all, Beckett surrendered four hits while walking none and striking out 10 Astros on the night.
W: Beckett (6-4) L: Oswalt (6-8)
Player of the Game: Josh Beckett (9 IP, 4 Hs, 1 R, 0 BB, 10 Ks, 103 PI)
Around the League:
...Pittsburgh activated Freddy Sanchez (.315 avg., 7 HRs, 35 RBIs) from the disabled list and designated Chris Gomez (.333 avg., .742 ops) for assignment...Cleveland SP Fausto Carmona (6-6, 4.32 ERA) pitched a complete game shutout over Cincinnati, leading the Indians to a 6-0 win...